Book-rest.



E. C. LOOKWOOD.

BOOK REST.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 29, 1908.

975,140; Patented N0v.8, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. G. LOCKWOOD.v

BOOK REST.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1908.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Elli/-66 ERASTUS C. LOCKWOOD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BOOK-REST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

Application filed July 29, 1908. Serial No. 445,969.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS C. LOOK- woon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Rests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rests or supports for holding large account books, record books and other large or heavy volumes in an inclined position suitable for writing therein and inspecting the same.

The objects of the invention are to produce a desirable and practical book rest or support of this kind which can be easily shifted and turned on the desk, or other supporting surface, to place the book supported thereby in the most convenient position for examining it, making entries therein, footing columns, checking, posting, or performing other book-keeping operations, and which relieves the user from the necessity of lifting the book about or shifting his position; also to make the rest adjustable to suit volumes of different sizes and to change the inclination of the book which it supports; also to construct the rest so that it is light and can be folded or collapsed into compact and convenient form for packing it or carrying it about, thus especially adapting the rest for the use of accountants whose duty it is to examine and audit books in different places; and also to improve book rests of this sort in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a book rest or support embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation thereof, indicating by broken lines the position of a book thereon. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary central sectional elevation thereof, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the connection between the front and side pieces of the rest. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the back piece and rear sections of the sides folded. Fig. 8 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of the front piece and front sections of the sides folded.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The rest or support is in the form of an open rectangular frame composed of connected front, back and side pieces or members. The back piece is of greater height than the front piece so that an open book lying upon the rest will be supported in an inclined position. The rest is provided with casters or ball supports which enable it to be readily turned and moved about on the desk or other supporting surface. The parts of the rest are constructed and connected so that the rest can be contracted and enlarged and folded or collapsed into compact form.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the parts of the rest are made from sheet metal pressed into shape, which pro duces a light, neat and attractive rest, but the rest can be made of wood or other material.

The front piece A consists of a single bar of channel or U-shape in cross-section and has a ledge or shelf a at its central portion below its top surface upon which the back of the book rests to prevent the book from slipping forwardly on the support. The back preferably consists of two sections B B connected at the center of the back by a vertical pivot or hinge b of any suitable sort which enables the back sections, when disconnected from the front piece, to be folded upon each other. The back sections are provided at their upper edges with flanges b which strengthen and stiffen them and afford a broad bearing surface for the book, and their upper edges are depressed at their hinged ends to provide a central curved seat or depression 6 to receive the back of the book. Each side member of the rest consists of front and rear sections 0 C which are telescopically connected, to enable the front piece to be adjusted toward or from the back piece to better adapt the rest to books of diflerent lengths, or to change the inclination of the book on the rest. The front sections C of the sides are of channel or U-shape in cross-section and are of a thickness adapting them to enter between the flanges of the front piece. The rear sections of the sides have horizontal lower portions 0 of channel or U-shape in cross section which receive the front sections of the sides,

and vertical web portions 0 which increase in width rearwardly and serve to brace or steady the back to which they are connected. The flanges of the sections of the sides are slotted, as shown at c 0 Figs. 2, 7 and 8, and thumb screws or the like D passing through the slots of the two sections serve to rigidly but adjustably connect the same. Then the thumb screws are loosened, the sections of the sides can be telescoped upon each other to adjust the front piece toward or from the back piece as may be necessary. By. removing the thumb screws, the side sections can be disconnected for collapsing or folding the rest. front sections of the sides extend between the upper and lower flanges of the front piece and are pivoted thereto by a rivet or the like 0 upon which the front sections of the sides, when disconnected from the rear sections, can be folded forwardly between the flanges of the front piece, as indicated in Fig. 8. Holes f are also provided in the ends of the front piece and front ends of the front sections of the sides which register when the side sections are extended at right angles to the front piece, and removable pins or the like F placed in these holes serve to hold the side sections rigidly at right angles to the front piece. The pins F are removed when it is desired to fold the rest. The rear ends of the rear side sections are provided with perforated lugs or ears G which extend to opposite sides of the vertical web portions of these sections, and are connected by hinge pins grand securing pins 9 to complementary perforated lugs g on the back. The outer or securing pins g for the side sections are removable, and when they are support as a center.

removed the rear side sections can be folded inwardly and rearwardly against the back on the hinge pins The hinge 12 between the two sections of the back also enables these back sections to be folded rearwardly against each other so that the back and rear sections of the sides can be folded into the compact form shown in Fig. 7 lVhen the rear side sections are turned outwardly at right angles to the back for connection with the front sections, and the securing pins 9 placed in their lugs, they hold the rear side sections rigidly in this position. I

H represents casters of any suitable sort arranged at the corners of the rest to bear on the supporting surface for permitting the rest to be readily turned and moved about on the supporting surface. Ball casters are shown, the sockets of which are riveted to the under sides of the ends of the front piece and rear ends of the rear side sections.

I represents a pivotal leg or support which depends upon the central portion of the back slightly below the casters, so that the rest can tilt slightly on and swing about this leg or ables the rest to be turned from side to side about the leg or support I as a center with out shifting on the supporting surface, but. the leg or support I does not hinder the rest from being rolled about to different positions on the supporting surface. The leg or sup- The front ends of the This construction en port I is conveniently formed by a depending part of the hinge pin for the sections of the back and is covered with rubber to prevent it from slipping on the supporting surface.

The invention is not restricted to the par ticular construction of the members of the rest and means for connecting the same herei1 1 shown and described, and the members or parts of the rest could be constructed and connected in other ways which would permit the rest to be adjusted and folded or collapsed into compact form, substantially as described.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A book rest adapted to rest and to-be moved on a supporting surface and comprising connected front, back and side members, said back member being of greater height than said front member to support an open book in an inclined position, said side members adjustably and detachably connecting the front and back members to each other and permitting the relative adjustments of the front and back members to accommodate books of different sizes and enabling the parts of the rest to be disconnected and collapsed into compact form, substantially as set forth. v

2. A book rest adapted to rest and to be moved on a supporting surface and comprising connected front, back and side members arranged to. support an open book, said side members consisting of relatively movable sections whereby said front and back members may be adjusted relatively to each other,-

and means for clamping the sections of said side members in adjusted position, the opposite ends of the side members being movably connected tosaid front and back members, substantially as set forth.

3. A book rest comprising connected front, back and side members arranged to support an open book, said side members adjustably and detachably connecting said front and back members, wherebysaid front and back members can be adjusted toward and from each other and can be disconnected for collapsing said rest, substantially as set forth.

at. A book rest comprising connected front, back and side members arranged to support an open book, said side members detachably connecting said front and back members, and said back member consisting of hinged sections adapted to be folded upon each other, substantially as set forth.

5. A book rest comprising connected front, back and side members arranged .to support an open book, said side members consisting of sections detachably connected to each other and hinged to said front and back members, substantially as setforth.

6. A book rest comprising connected front, back and'side members arranged to support an open book, said side members consisting of sections telescopically connected to each other and hinged to said front and back members, substantially as set forth.

7 A book rest comprising a front member, 5 a back member, and side members which detachably connect said front and back members, said side members being hinged to said back member and said back member consisting of hinged sections, substantially as set 10 forth.

8. A book rest comprising connected front, back and side members arranged to support an open book, casters for the rest adapted to I bear and roll upon a supporting surface, and

a support for said rest Which depends 15 slightly below said casters and bears on the supporting surface to form a pivot about Which the rest can turn, substantially as set forth.

WVitness my hand, this 20th day of July, 20 1908.

ERASTUS C. LOOKWOOD.

lVitnesses:

F. A. SYMoNs, GEO. BLACKHALL. 

